The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

Net Carbs:6

2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Karly Campbell

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"It’s always interesting to read the comments and see how people change the recipes but I wouldn’t change this one at all. It is so flavourful. Perfect as is." – Deb

KETO BEEF STEW is exactly the type of comfort food I want to eat all winter long! It’s rich, thick, and full of amazing flavor. The best part is…no one will even realize it’s low carb. Keep reading for all my secrets or hit the jump button to go straight to the recipe.

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (1)

I’ve always been more of a soup girl than a stew girl, but wow, I think I’ve changed my mind!

This low carb beef stew is so rich and hearty and it’s just bursting with all those classic flavors that you think of when you think of stew.

Secret confession: There are ZERO potatoes in this recipe and my kids honestly had no idea. They thought I cooked them a meal full of carbs and they seriously didn’t notice a bit that I actually used turnips instead of potatoes.

In some instances, you’ll know when a turnip is a turnip. Take my turnips au gratin or mashed turnips…both are delicious, if you like turnips. They’re just not going to fool someone into think it’s a potato.

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (2)

This beef stew with turnips though? Oh yeah. The turnips soak up all that lovely beef flavor and get this silky texture and man…it’s just heaven. People likely won’t even realize this isn’t a classic stew recipe.

How to make low carb beef stew:

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You’ll need beef for beef stew and I personally prefer to start with a chuck roast instead of the already chunked up packs of ‘beef stew meat.’ I think a chuck roast just has better texture and flavor.

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (3)

Sear up the beef, working in batches if necessary. You want gorgeous browned beef…it’ll add so much flavor!

I like to use a heavy-bottomed dutch oven for this. Here is the one I use…it’s lasted well and it’s priced great compared to many others.

Next, you’ll deglaze the pot with a bit of beef broth and vinegar. You could also use dry red wine in place of that bit of broth, if you wanted. Yum!! (Deglazing just means adding liquid to the hot pan and scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Those browned bits equal LOADS of flavor! Don’t skip this step.)

You’ll add your beef, beef broth, tomato paste, and seasoning back to the pot and let it simmer away until the beef is nice and tender.

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (4)

Drop in your turnips, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and salt and give it a big stir.

Thickening low carb stew:

We’re going to use xanthan gum to thicken the stew. It’s easily found at most well-stocked grocery stores or you can order it from my Amazon link. Xanthan gum sounds a little weird, but it’s a totally natural product that’s added to more foods than you realize. You probably already eat it, you just likely don’t cook with it at home unless you’re well versed in this low carb life.

Remove 1/2 cup of liquid from your stew and sprinkle just a 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum over the top and then immediately whisk it all together. A little goes a really long way with xanthan gum!

Pour that mixture back into the stew and continue cooking for about 45 minutes.

The vegetables will be tender, the stew will have this glorious richness to it, and you’ll basically never want to go a week without this keto beef stew again.

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (5)

A note about the carrots:

Yep, I totally added carrots to this AND called it a keto recipe. Let me explain…

I added TWO carrots to this entire recipe that serves 6 people.

Those two carrots do a whole lot more than just add carbs…they add a sweet pop of flavor here and there, they add color and brightness, and most importantly: they make this keto beef stew feel like the beef stew your mama used to make.

Of course, you can leave them out if you wish, but I vote that you keep ’em in there. 😉

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (6)

More low carb soup recipes:

If you’re craving warm bowls of hearty soup this season, I’ve got ya covered. This keto soup is packed with Mexican flavors and it’s a favorite for us. This keto cheeseburger soup also packs a ton of flavor.

Craving chili? My keto chili and keto white chicken chili both get rave reviews!

For a lighter soup, try my beef cabbage soup or broccoli cauliflower soup.

As you can see…there are lots of options!

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (7)

Follow me on social for more recipe ideas & inspiration!

The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (8)

Recipe

Keto Beef Stew

This rich, thick beef stew is packed with beef and veggies making it a hearty dinner on chilly nights.

4.49 from 314 votes

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Prep20 minutes minutes

Cook2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pound chuck roast cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil more as needed
  • 3 teaspoons salt divided
  • 4 1/2 cups beef broth divided
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound turnips peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into coins
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 celery stalk chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced

Instructions

  • Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until shimmering.

  • Sprinkle the beef with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the beef to the pot in a single layer (you’ll likely need to work in batches) and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Add additional oil as needed between batches. Remove all beef to a bowl and set aside.

  • Add ½ cup beef broth and vinegar to the dutch oven and scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan over medium-high heat.

  • Add the beef back to the skillet along with the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover. Cook over low heat for 1 ½ hours or until beef is tender.

  • Add the turnips, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Stir to combine.

  • Remove ½ cup of liquid from the pot to a small bowl or measuring cup. Sprinkle with the xanthan gum and whisk well to incorporate. Return mixture to the pot and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

  • Remove bay leaf and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Tips & Notes:

Smaller turnips tend to be sweeter than larger turnips and have less of a bitter taste.

You may use 1/2 cup of dry red wine in place of the beef broth to deglaze the pan.

I did not measure the servings by volume. Just divide evenly among six bowls.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1| Calories: 341kcal (17%)| Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)| Protein: 31g (62%)| Fat: 20g (31%)| Saturated Fat: 8g (50%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 94mg (31%)| Sodium: 1872mg (81%)| Fiber: 3g (13%)| Sugar: 5g (6%)| Net Carbs: 6g (12%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Beef

Cuisine:American

Keyword:low carb soup, soup, stew

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The BEST Keto Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good beef stew? ›

The best beef stews are made with the right cut of meat, like chuck roast, brisket or round. Leaner cuts (which are good for the grill) lack the connective tissue that turns into gelatin as it cooks. That keeps the meat juicy and tender while also thicken and enriching the stew.

What can I add to my beef stew to give it more flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

How many carbs are in keto beef stew? ›

How many carbs are in keto beef stew? This keto beef stew recipe has 5.8g of carbs and 1.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.2g net carbs per bowl of stew.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

Why put tomato paste in beef stew? ›

A bit of tomato paste amps up the flavor of beef stew, giving it a richness and a punch of umami that makes the stew truly memorable.

What is the basic stew formula? ›

The Ideal Stew Ratio: Two Parts Meat, One Part Vegetable

Most meat-based stews call for tough, inexpensive cuts of meat, while vegetarian recipes include the same onions, carrots, and celery typical of a beef stew. Two parts meat to one part vegetables is the perfect ratio for a meaty stew.

How do you deepen beef stew flavor? ›

Potatoes

Meat and potatoes have been married as long as culinary time. Potatoes contribute depth and add an earthy nature to your stew, but they can also take on the flavor of the stew itself, making it a fairly obvious choice to add. Potatoes help thicken your beef stew as well.

How do I make my stew taste richer? ›

Here are 10 ways to really boost the flavor of chili and stew.
  1. Season as you go. ...
  2. Include dried mushrooms. ...
  3. Stir in caramelized onions. ...
  4. Swap in roasted garlic. ...
  5. Simmer with whole spices. ...
  6. Up the umami with miso paste. ...
  7. Spice it up. ...
  8. Stir in a spoonful of fish sauce.
May 1, 2019

Why does my beef stew have no flavor? ›

Not browning the beef enough would be the first possible problem. That adds a lot of flavour to the finished stew. You can toss the beef in seasoned flour before browning it which will also help thicken the stew. Not adding enough seasoning would be the second potential issue.

How can I thicken my stew without carbs? ›

Xanthan gum

Used for baking or thickening soups or sauces, xanthan gum has zero net carbs. Use in small amounts and be sure to sprinkle the thickener into soups or sauces a little at a time so that it doesn't clump. Also, too much xanthan gum can yield a gummy or slimy texture, so it's best to use minimal amounts.

Can you eat too much beef on keto? ›

Meat and poultry

Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.

Can I eat beef everyday on keto? ›

Recommendations for red and processed meat

If you eat more than 90g of red or processed meat a day, it's recommended that you reduce your intake to 70g or less a day. You can do this by eating smaller portions of red and processed meat, eating these meats less often or swapping them for alternatives.

When should celery be added to stew? ›

Once the meat is tender - but not falling apart, add the potatoes, celery, carrots and butternut squash. Pour over another 2 cups of beef broth and enough water to cover the vegetables. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 30 minutes - until the vegetables are tender.

Why put vinegar in stews? ›

Vinegar can add depth of flavour to soups, sauces, and stews. Especially great for tomato-based recipes, you can add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar towards the end of the cooking process to amplify the flavours of your other ingredients.

Why do you put celery in stew? ›

(side note) Some of the flavor of the stew liquid is from those vegetables, especially the celery and carrots. You'll probably want to cook some with the meat, even if you discard (or puree) them.

How to make beef stew tender and juicy? ›

What is the best way to make beef stew meat tender and juicy? If you want to prepare beef stew meat that is both tender and juicy, the best way to cook it is by searing it on all sides in a hot skillet and then crumbling it on top of a lightly browned roux sauce for about 10 minutes.

What is the most flavorful meat for stew? ›

For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you. To make a delicious stew, choose good-quality ingredients.

How to make stew nice and thick? ›

Whisk a teaspoon of flour in a little cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the stew as it's cooking. Don't add dry flour directly to the stew as it may clump. After adding the slurry, bring the stew to boil. This will cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell.

What is the best thickening agent for beef stew? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

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